Orton hopes to show Brees a thing or two

Thursday

Dec 27, 2007 at 12:01 AMDec 27, 2007 at 3:25 AM

Kyle Orton remembers following Drew Brees at Purdue. Sunday, of course, Orton will be trying to show Brees some things that will turn up on film that he might want to emulate. Orton's Chicago Bears and Brees' New Orleans Saints close the 2007 regular season with a noon kickoff at Soldier Field, and it will be the first matchup for the two former Boilermaker stars.

Reed Schreck

Kyle Orton remembers following Drew Brees at Purdue.

"He's a great quarterback and he's had a nice start to his career and at Purdue," Orton said. "He's the guy I was watching film on because when I came in as a freshman, he had just left.

"All the stuff that I was watching and trying to emulate was from the stuff he had done, and he really ran the offense extremely well when he was there."

Sunday, of course, Orton will be trying to show Brees some things that will turn up on film that he might want to emulate. Orton's Chicago Bears and Brees' New Orleans Saints close the 2007 regular season with a noon kickoff at Soldier Field, and it will be the first matchup for the two former Boilermaker stars.

For Orton, it will be his third consecutive start following nearly two years of inactivity. He's 1-1 and will be trying to post a winning record this season, to go along with the 10-5 mark he compiled as a rookie in 2005.

Brees is putting up numbers that have to be admired. He’s only 10 completions shy of Rich Gannon’s single-season record of 418 set with Oakland in 2002.

Orton only threw 14 passes in last week's 35-7 win over Green Bay. He continues to only care about one statistic -- wins.

"I think I took a personal step," he said of his performance, which resulted in a 103.6 passer rating in only Chicago’s second game in Lovie Smith's four years in which it did not have a turnover or allow a sack. "And I thought as an offense we came out and executed, and we were focused and played a great game."

One more showing like that this season might make next season more enjoyable for Orton.

"I think my play will speak for myself, and hopefully I can continue to improve and play a good game this week," he said when asked his thoughts on being the 2008 starter.

"I'd like to have a chance to compete. I think everybody in the locker room going into training camp wants a chance to show what they can do, and show their improvement and get a chance."

Bears head coach Lovie Smith said Orton "definitely so" could compete for the starting job next year.

"I think everyone will have an opportunity to do that," said Smith, who anointed Rex Grossman the starter going into this season and never opened it up to competition. "You’ll take the good things we've seen lately. You do remember the last things that go on in a football game, in a season like this. The memory I have of Kyle right now is going out and leading our team this past week.

"Hopefully, I’ll have another positive memory, as we make decisions in the offseason, after this game."

Brees said he saw Orton against Minnesota two weeks ago on TV, but missed the Packer game.

"He came right after me at Purdue, so I kind of helped recruit him a little bit," Brees said.

"I followed him his rookie year (2005). I've been happy for Kyle. I think he's done a good job when he's had the opportunity. He certainly won a big game last week against the Packers."

As for communication with Brees, Orton said they don't talk much.

"Couple of times a year, maybe," he said. "I try to get down to his golf tournament."

Brees can’t wait for them to get on the links this offseason.

"He’s scared to play me in golf," Brees said.

Reed Schreck is the NFL writer for the Rockford Register Star. Contact him at 815-987-1381 or rschreck@rrstar.com.

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